Festival snubs Kevin Costner's band Modern West

HE has performed before Russian president Vladmir Putin and toured the world with his country rock band Modern West for more than a decade but Hollywood star Kevin Costner just wasn’t up to snuff for a small UK music festival.

Kevin Costner toured the world with his country rock band Modern West for more than a decade[GETTY]

The group, whose current single Angels Came Down is the toast of America’s military wives for its comforting message concerning soldiers, were turned down for a Saturday night slot at the Gloucester-based Sportbeat event and UK R&B act Soul II Soul were chosen instead.

“We were booking bands and doing the rounds with all the agencies to see what acts were available and this one agent said would we be interested in Kevin Costner,” says festival organiser Jody Goding on being contacted by the Dances With Wolves star’s representative.

At first I thought it was a joke – I didn’t know he played in a band

Jody Goding

“At first I thought it was a joke – I didn’t know he played in a band.”

This year marks the 25th anniversary of 59-year-old Costner’s hit sports film Field Of Dreams and Sportbeat chiefs were contacted because it was felt Kevin’s appearance at the festival would have dovetailed neatly with the event’s mixture of music and sport.

“It would have been quite good but it would have been bizarre,” says Jody.

“One of our crew said he had seen Kevin’s band play at V-Festival. Apparently when he is over here filming, he looks to play gigs at weekends to keep himself busy.

"Local mayor Chris Chatterton, who knows a bit about music, said Modern West were a bit of fun – but they’re not the right act for us.”